It started with a lie. A night of blurred lines between a teacher and a student.I wasn’t her student, yet it was the single most defining night of my life.I’ve never been the man she thinks I am.Most people have no idea about the life I’ve lived or the words that ring true when it comes to me—still waters run deep.But you’d be hard-pressed to find a coed on the TGU campus who knows … TGU campus who knows otherwise…because I’ve never corrected them.
The clock is ticking down, it’s Fourth and Inches with the ball inside the one-yard line and the focus is on me, The Guy on the Left. I’ve never felt like a football god, inside I’m…just Troy.
It’s time to set the record straight.
For my son, I‘ll find the strength.
In her eyes, I’m determined to gain redemption.
I will have them both, even if I have to take my eye off the ball.
All books in the series can be read as a stand-alone.
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REVIEW: 4 STARS
“Love requires a little bit of idiocy and a hell of a lot of bravery.”
First and foremost – OMGosh. All. Of. The. Smiles. Troy’s swagger (hot), Clarissa’s anger (understandable but frustrating), his smirk (weak knees) and her glare (scary)….this one is full of piss and vinegar and everything that made me giggle and sigh. In the end, I walked away with a love for yet another book of Stewart’s and all it does is make me want more….
Going into this book, I knew there was going to be some heavy to outweigh the humor that we originally saw in The Guy on the Right. I was sure of it, because the glimpses of Troy that we got – I feel he was the most misunderstood man, and with that comes a lot of emotion. I am so glad that I was able to read an early copy of this one. Kate Stewart did Troy good. She also showed a very tenacious and sometimes (often) bratty heroine that gave hard. I love that Stewart can infuse comedy into a subject so serious, but also retain the significance of the topic at hand. The seriousness. The truth. This one, while I loved it so much, will cause many discussions and pretty adamant thoughts – and I can’t wait to discuss them!!!
“I’m drowning in resentment, teetering on the brink of love and hate.”
Troy would not give up. He was a persistent little sucker. But with that came some serious heartache and pain. My heart hurt for Troy so much, and yet, his love was filled with determination and he refused to be sidelined. His determination and persistence was probably my favorite thing about the ENTIRE book. I realize that love makes us do crazy things, and I also understand that there needs to be a limit on how much pushback we are willing to accept…but it’s almost as if Troy didn’t have limits. On anything!! His humor was also head-shake-worthy. He took her bitterness and turned it around – and I could admire that more than anything. Troy made this book for me. He is a standup guy. He made sure he took care of his, and never let anything get in the way once his mind was made up. I love love LOVED him. Also, if that didn’t show the true breadth of Troy’s love and devotion to not only Clarissa, but Dante as well, I don’t know what would. I loved the mixture of anger I felt at not only the situation, but at her….and to see it come full circle, that was a great read.
“You keep punishing me for something you won’t let me apologize for.”
Again, Troy made this book so much more than it had the potential to not be (all comedy with little to no seriousness), and I’m thankful for the dip into the heavy side with the funny highlights. His personality and his reality were woven into the storyline with a sort of comfort and not one bit of it felt out of character for him, nor did it feel forced at all. Having said that, I also had a really hard time with Clarissa’s attitude and her responses to some of the ways she handled things. Having said that, I can also say with conviction that I can completely understand why she was the way she was – even if I didn’t agree with it. I honestly think that shows the creativity and depth of Stewart’s writing in this one. We all know she can write funny, and we have already seen her “heavy” reads….but she meshed those well in this book. She continually surprises me and impresses me with each book I have the pleasure of reading.
In closing: SOLID READ and plenty of smiles!!! Troy’s book was what I needed after the rough patch of books I was wading through. Kate Stewart gave Troy all the emotions he needed and showed the struggle was real!! This is the second book in The Underdog Series, and it kind of runs concurrent to Theo’s and Lance’s stories – but is a complete standalone. I can say that with confidence because nothing was given away in this book that would ruin anything from the first book. I loved seeing the ‘other side’ of the side characters’ stories through another lens. However, after reading Theo’s story, Lance’s novella, and now this one, I love that she was able to splice in other stories that worked with the happening’s of those other books and it was neat to be able to piece it all together from a different standpoint. She definitely did this story and this couple justice. I am absolutely, head over heels in love with Troy.
“There’s no story if you give up.”
~BEE
The Guy on the Left was one of the Best books I’ve ever read by Kate Stewart. It’s right up there with, Drive and Method. Don’t get me wrong, I Love everything that this author has ever written but some of them touch my soul in ways that others didn’t. Maybe, it had something to do with a certain six year old that basically stole my heart. Oh, his daddy isn’t so bad either.
I love a tortured hero who fights for what he wants and never gives up. Even when the odds were against him, Troy knew exactly what he wanted and he pursued it with a vengeance.
Clarissa didn’t want to forgive Troy for his past sins but when he proved himself time and time again, her walls slowly started chipping away.
The Guy on the Left gave me all the feels that I so love in a great romance. It was funny, compelling and so emotive that at times, it brought me to my knees. I wish I could give this one ten beautiful stars!
Oh my HEART!!!
I loved The Guy on the Right and Lordddd I freaking loved The Guy on the Left as well. Kate Stewart is rocking these books!!! Such a cute concept of these cuties in the pic!!!
“It started with a lie. A night of blurred lines between a teacher and a student.
I wasn’t her student, yet it was the single most defining night of my life.”
Hellooo, yes this hot little number just drug me in..hook, line and sinker!!! lol But don’t let this blurb fool you. There is lots of feels in this book that I am surprised my kindle made it through!! haha
Keep em’ coming Stewart…Loving The Underdogs!!!!
This book was AMAZING! I’ll be honest that I wasn’t sure I would like a book with Troy after meeting him in The Guy On The Right, but Kate Stewart completely redeemed him and let you know why he acted the way that he did.
Troy had lied to Clarissa when they first met and that first meeting resulted in a son. When she discovered his lie, Clarissa didn’t want Troy to be in either her life or their son’s. Troy knows he screwed up and he wants nothing more than to make everything right. When he finally meets his son, Dante, Troy will do anything to prove himself worthy of Dante and Clarissa, but can Clarissa forgive him?
This was such an emotional and angsty book. My heart literally ached at times during the book and I just wanted to hug Troy, Dante, and Clarissa. There was also so much humor. Dante was hilarious. As much as I loved The Guy On The Right, I think The Guy On The Left was even better. Don’t miss this book!!!
Yes!! Yes!! Yesssssss!!! Kate gave me such a great book! I couldn’t wait for this book because hello……..Troy!!
Kate gave us all the FEELS and MORE with this unputdownable story. It all started with a lie……the trust was broke before anything could even happen….but something did and Troy will stop at nothing to make sure that he’s where he needs to be. He watches from afar but never too far.
Gahhh…..I can’t stop thinking of how good this story is. So here’s my advice….GO BUY THE BOOK! You will get everything you love and more in The Guy on the Left.
Highly recommended.
Easiest five stars I’ve gave to a book in a long time! There’s just something about Kate’s words and the way she tells a story that leaves me completely enamored with each book. I loved this one hard! So much angst and tension. I literally had tears and I never get those. So kudos to you, Kate! Definitely a must read!
I have been waiting for the story since I finished Theo’s story a few months ago. I wasn’t sure what I was going to think about Trot but he surprised me in a good way!!
You will fall for Troy. You will be rooting for him when it seems everyone else is waiting for him to fail. Troy was a surprise I didn’t see coming. He really deserved everything he got. He is the most hard working guy. He knew what he had to do and he wasn’t going to let anything stop him.
Clarissa is a great mother. She is always putting Dante’s needs above her own. She is bitter and I understand why. But she needs to let go of old hurts and move on! Hopefully she’ll let Troy help her!
This is another amazing book in this series! I cannot wait to learn more about Lance!!!
The first time Troy and Clarissa meet, it’s in a bar and ends with a one night stand. Four months later, Clarissa heads out to the high school Troy “works” at only to find out he’s a 19 year old senior. Terrified because this first year teacher just discovers that the father of her baby hasn’t worked at the school, but attended the school, Clarissa cuts Troy off. She refuses to allow Troy access to the son he helped create. I understand how shocked and scared Clarissa must feel. She’s had sex with a student, even though she was lied to, it could still affect her career if her school found out, but she’s denied her son his father. When Troy answers an ad looking for a roommate, he only takes the room because of its location. The house happens to be right next door to his son, and his room looks into Dante’s. He’s stalked Clarissa’s social media the entirety of Dante’s life, looking at the images of his son from afar. He’s also stalked Clarissa in real life. Often parking outside places she’s lived making sure they were ok. He’s dropped off checks Clarissa never cashed and left much needed things like car seats on her porch. He’s tried.
Clarissa on the other hand wouldn’t let go of the fear that Troy caused. Yes, he made a mistake lying to her and not telling her his real age or that he was a senior in high school, but that’s not a good enough reason to keep her son from his father. Troy’s attempted to help support him from the time he graduated high school. He’s worked overnights at the UPS in order to be able to leave her money for his son. Yet Clarissa has lied to her friends and family. She’s never told her best friend Parker that Troy has been leaving her cash, checks, and gifts all along. She’s lied to her son about who his father is, and she’s lied to herself.
When you read The Guy on the Right, you read about the parade of women that Troy has in his bed while living right next door to his son. I’m trying to figure out how this was possible because in this book we’re told he goes to school, football practice and games, and works overnights. He’s also spending as much time as he can with Dante and also trying to win Clarissa. Why in the world would he have the constant parade of co-eds in his bed?
Clarissa’s not much better with her lying and manipulations. As I’ve stated above, she’s lied to Parker and to Dante. There’s no one else in her life besides those two. Her parents had a horrible relationship, her mother died from a drug overdose, and she saw the constant “girlfriends” her own father had while she was growing up. She wanted to do better for her son and has worked hard to get them into a safe place. Money is still really tight, but it didn’t have to be as bad if she would’ve cashed the checks that Troy left her.
The saving grace for this book is the genius that is Dante. Though he’s 5/6 and running his own YouTube channel, designing merch, etcetera and his mother’s not there supervising it. There’s a whole lot of stuff I’m not going to get into about all the time’s the kid’s had to lie and click that he’s old enough to have a channel, create a website, create and sell merch, etcetera without parents knowledge or approval. He’s making money off of this venture, but how’s he collecting the money? Yeah there’s a lot involved with a social media presence like that, yet his family’s fine with the 5-6 year old running it? Besides that, Dante’s an amazing kid, funny, kind, and a smart alec.
Yes, this is a second chance romance, but it’s a messy one. Clarissa is emotionally immature. She stopped maturing the moment she decided that Troy couldn’t be a part of her baby’s life. She held on to those feelings for 6 years. She could’ve let Troy and his family be a part of Dante’s life, she could’ve had their help and support and chose not to. She’s 3-4 years older than Troy and has been a single mom for 6 years, but emotionally she doesn’t act like it at all. Now, the recipe’s in front of each chapter really throw you off. This is a NA romance, not a cozy mystery. The reason for the recipes isn’t fully explained, you figure it out eventually, but they’re really not needed.
Here’s hoping that book 3 will be better.
**I read this book using my Kindle Unlimited subscription
Talk about a roller coaster of emotions straight out the gate! Troy is something else and tends to leave a bad taste in your mouth at the start. As the book moved forward, I found myself gravitating towards his corner more and more. He constantly is trying to prove he is worth the risk and can be the man Clarissa needs. Throw in some drama and you have another dynamite story from Kate Stewart! I love how her character timelines (from other books in the series) overlap. It definitely adds to the appeal of the books!
4.5 heart breaking stars
This story was a train wreck if emotions , while I loved loved Troy !! So much I really struggled to like Clarissa !
I hated the way she shut him out , I hated the way she chose to keep him away from his son for a lie … but I was still addicted to their messy messy story .
I loved Parker ! The comics relief in this story , and I loved that it follows the same time line as the guy on the right but from a completely different perspective then I would have imagined .
“Troy is not the reason women steel type . He’s the exception “
This is book two in the series but it can easily be read as a stand alone or out of order ! We see the other characters at times and moment cross over in the book and it’s done beautifully !
Kate has created a wonderful world of character that bring so much depth, and feeling. There are moments that make you laugh and moments that make you want to cry , and even evokes anger and frustration at times . If you want a book or series that brings everything bubbling out of you read this series !!
I’m off to read lances book now !!!
“Cause I’m your sun, and you’re my moon, and where I go, you’re right behind me.”
Floved this book! Such depth to both of the main characters, I fell head over heels for Dante and Parker was so much fun. I was laughing so hard that my husband asked me to read parts to him. I balled my eyes out, swooned, got angry and wanted to make Clarissa tell Dante. Pamela was my hero, maybe as a grandmother we connected, I loved her straight shooting mouth, but she was so supportive at the same time. This book had me captivated more than the first book of the series.
An omission of truth, a forbidden romance, results in an unplanned pregnancy. So much on the line for the teacher because she had no idea he was a student. Her hopes disintegrate, she inflicts her pain and anger by lashing out and takes away his rights as a father. Who knew Troy an 18 yr old womaniser would stand up to the challenge from afar, until he decided to push the boundaries closer to home. Clarissa had her reasons for doing what she did, trust was something to be earned. She was one hell of a mother, Dante always came first and although she allowed Troy back into their life as a friend, she was constantly watching and waiting to push Troy away. Their sexual tension and chemistry was off the charts. However this book focused on the intellectual and emotional choices made.
Troy’s story. I really felt like he had some secrets deep down and struggles. I’m glad he gets his very own story so we can get to know him and his future.
Clarissa has been strong and amazing at being a single mom. The tension between her and Troy is strong, I love it yet at times it tears at my heart.
These two go through so much it really takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions.
Dante is a brilliant and amazing little boy and it was wonderful to see Troy become part of his life.
This was more emotional and deeper than the first book but very much worth the read.
His voice shakes with question. “I’m the goal?”
“You’re the goal.”
The Guy on the Left by Kate Stewart was a heartbreaking, emotional and heartwarming story of second chances, forgiveness and trust. We first met Troy as Theo’s roommate in The Guy on the Right. He was the beautiful, charismatic, football star playboy. He showed all is flaws and made some really bad choices which made you wonder if this guy had any redeeming qualities. But underneath that confident smile and all that bravado is a sweet, vulnerable and loyal man that is willing to sacrifice everything for his loved ones.
When he first meets Clarissa, he is young and dumb and puts her in a position that can potentially ruin her new career and her future. Clarissa does what she feels she needs to do to protect herself and her unborn child. Troy knows first hand how hard it is for Clarissa and her son Dante and watches out for both of them from a distance. Dante! He is such a joy. He is smart, silly and full of quirks and personality. Troy can’t keep his distance any longer and pushes his way into Clarissa and her sons life. Their journey is not smooth or pretty. It is an ugly beautiful mess. Both Troy and Clarissa have to work through their hurt, resentment and insecurities to be able to see that the other is worth the risk and it was heartbreaking to read. My heart broke for all three of them, but the journey was so worth it. I am loving this series by Kate Stewart and highly recommend.
I really enjoyed The Guy On The Right (Underdogs Book 1) but The Guy On The Left was something else!! This was a taboo situation between a teacher and a student that started with a lie. One little lie caused so much devastation and heartache!! Such an amazing ride from start to finish!
Troy’s world came crashing down with one lie. One lie he could not undo, one lie that would haunt him, one lie that would become his motivation to prove himself. Would he ever be good enough? He had to, for the sake of his son.
Wow!! Troy knew what he had to do and put his mind to it! I loved how even though it took a lot of time, he made it happen!! It was such an angsty and heart warming second chance romance! I loved that Clarissa made him prove himself; it was a small lie but came with a huge consequence!
This book is #2 in The Underdogs series. This book can be read as a standalone novel. For reader understanding, and to avoid spoilers, I recommend reading these in order.
Clarissa was devastated when she found out the lie that Troy had told her could tear her whole world apart. Obviously he was a true player, not the person she thought he was. The devastation led to the worst consequences that could have been given.
Troy had to live apart from his greatest joy. He had to be punished for the damage he had caused. Only he had to come to realize he wanted more from life – thanks to the lesson only she could have taught him.
This was a story full of all the heat, angst, and true depth we have all come to enjoy from this author. The characters are meant to be together, obviously. It is such a joy to read both point of views, and see the development happening in front of us. Could not put it down! I cannot wait for the next installment in this cool series.
Troy. Just. Troy. For a guy that made a mistake, he sure stepped up to the plate. Or line – cause football, not baseball.
Well edited.
Girl goes to a bar, looking for a good time. Girl finds a good time. Good time turns into a permanent situation. Girl goes to find the guy involved, only to have her world turned upside down. See, guy is really 18, a student in his senior year of high school. Girl is a 24 year old first year teacher. See the situation here? Girl – Clarissa – lets hormones and anger rule, telling the guy – Troy – that he will never see his child. Fast forward 5+ years. Troy is a senior in college, playing football, hoping for a shot at the NFL, and working to support himself, his mother, and his son. Yes, his son. Despite the fact that Clarissa told Troy to disappear from her life, he has in fact watched his son from a distance. He has sent checks, left gifts, and tried to be as close as possible while being shut out. To that end, he gets a room in a house right next door to the one Clarissa is living in. (Did you read ‘The Guy on the Right’? You should.) Troy wants to be as close to his son, Dante, as possible. Clarissa finally allows Troy to be the neighbor, to get to know his son on a friend/neighbor basis. He follows every rule Clarissa lays out, trying his absolute best to prove he can be the father Dante needs.
Slowly – oh, so slowly – Clarissa begins to see that Troy is really a good guy. However, she hangs on to a grudge like nobodies business. She won’t let go of the fact that Troy wasn’t upfront about being in high school when they met. It takes her so very long to see that he has grown up, to acknowledge that he has put in extraordinary effort to be responsible and part of his son’s life. Not only is she a gold medalist in grudge-holding, but she has heavy baggage from her childhood that she piles onto Troy. Fortunately, she has been an excellent mother to Dante, not passing on her baggage to him. The only exception to that would be withholding his father from him.
Eventually, Clarissa’s baggage almost costs her Troy. By the time she figures out he really is a good guy, she’s pushed him so much he just can’t take any more. It really broke my heart. Troy tried so hard and everyone around him saw what they wanted to see. No one took the time to see the really stellar guy inside. Theo jumped to conclusions. Kevin played fast and loose and almost cost Troy in the process. And all the while, no one bothered to see how hard Troy was working to better his life and the lives of those he loved. If you are looking to read a book with a guy you can adore, this is IT. Sigh. Nearly had tears. Enjoy!
Great read…highly recommended…showed great character growth
This is my last book of 2019 and what a book! I laughed, I cried, I screamed, but oh did I love this book. I could not put it down…once I started I had to finish.
Troy and Clarissa are great characters, you get swept up in their lives and struggles and really begin rooting for them as couple. There will be many bumps in the road before they get their HEA.. Stewart fills the pages of this book with so much emotion and angst that the reader will feel everyone of those bumps with Troy and Clarissa. Intertwined into the book are several supporting characters who really enhance the story.
In addition, there are some great recipes scattered throughout the book. Initially, I was wondering why there were included, but all will be revealed as you read.
Stewart is a new author for me (I will be checking out her other books). If you are looking for a well written, captivating, emotional read, I highly recommend this book.
Yes! I just struck single parent rom com gold with The Guy on the Left. It is the next book in Kate Stewart’s The Underdogs series and it’s Troy’s story. We first meet Troy in The Guy on the Right, but both books can be read independently.
There is nothing I enjoy more than when a character surprises me. I thought I had Troy’s number: cocky womanizer and entitled jock head. I could not have been more wrong.
Most of the time Troy acts more mature than Clarissa, even though she’s an older single mom and he’s a college senior. His hard work ethic, reliability, and gentle nature make him extremely appealing. He is dedicated to two things: proving himself to be a father worthy of Dante and getting drafted into the NFL.
Speaking of Dante, my face hurt from smiling so hard throughout the story and this five-year-old is the culprit. Every sentence out of his mouth either tugged at my heartstrings or cracked me up. Clarissa is a fantastic mother—firm, but loving and fun. Troy’s bond with Dante is instant. I loved every moment these two guys share.
The connection between Clarissa and Troy is wonderful as well. I desperately wanted them to have a happy ever after as a family, so I couldn’t wait for Clarissa to stop punishing Troy for his one huge lapse in judgment. It seemed like she was going to hold it over his head forever. Luckily, chemistry and common sense win out!
I laughed and swooned all the way through this book. I’m not sure which aspect I enjoyed more, but this was undoubtedly a win for me.
Okay,
While I damn near gushed over the first one this one did not live up to my expectations only because I went in thinking I was going to get the same “funny” as the first one.
Once I switched gears and read this story on it’s own with no expectations, I loved it!
I thought the moments between Dante and Troy were heartwarming!
My only gripe was Clarissa in the beginning for her knee jerk decision she made in regards to Dante and Troy….I get it, trust me, I do.
However, if you see Troy making an attempt I feel like she could have given in a lot sooner.
But all in all I love this series and the second installment.
Easily one of my fave series of 2019